HNF3δ compositions

Abstract

Purified HNF3 delta proteins and processes for producing them are disclosed. DNA molecules encoding the HNF3 delta proteins are also disclosed. The proteins may be used in regulating the transcription of one or more genes involved in the formation, differentiation, proliferation and maintenance of cells which form organ tissues, particularly pancreatic cells, as well as other tissue repair.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An isolated DNA sequence encoding a hepatocyte nuclear factor-3δ (HNF3δ) protein, which DNA sequence comprises a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) nucleotides #1 or #88 to #2400 or #3441 of SEQ ID NO: 1;   (b) nucleotides #1 or #70 to #2358 or #3342 of SEQ ID NO: 3; and   (c) nucleotide sequences which hybridize to (a) or (b) under stringent hybridization conditions and encode a protein which exhibits a HNF3δ activity, wherein stringent hybridization conditions are 15mM sodium chloride, 1.5mM sodium citrate pH 7.0, 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate and 65° C.   
     
     
       2. A vector comprising the isolated DNA sequence of claim 1 in operative association with an expression control sequence. 
     
     
       3. A host cell transformed with the vector of claim 2. 
     
     
       4. A method for producing purified HNF3δ protein, said method comprising the steps of: (a) culturing a host cell transformed with the isolated DNA sequence according to claim 1; and   (b) recovering and purifying said HNF3δ protein from the culture medium.   
     
     
       5. A chimcric DNA molccuic comprising the isolated DNA sequence according to claim 1, linked to a heterologous promoter sequence. 
     
     
       6. An isolated DNA sequence encoding a HNF3δ protein, which DNA sequence comprises a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids #1 to #771 of SEQ ID NO: 2;   (b) a nucleotide sequence encoding amino acids #1 to #763 of SEQ ID NO: 4; and   (c) a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes to (a) or (b) under stringent hybridization conditions and encode a protein which exhibits a HNF3δ activity, wherein stringent hybridization conditions are 15mM sodium chloride, 1.5mM sodium citrate pH 7.0, 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate and 65° C.   
     
     
       7. A vector comprising the isolated DNA sequence of claim 6 in operative association with an expression control sequence. 
     
     
       8. A host cell transformed with the vector of claim 7. 
     
     
       9. A method for producing purified HNF3δ protein, said method comprising the steps of: (a) culturing a host cell transformed with the isolated DNA sequence according to claim 6; and   (b) recovering and purifying said HNF3δ protein from the culture medium.   
     
     
       10. An isolated DNA molecule having a sequence encoding a protein which exhibits a HNF3δ activity, said DNA molecule comprising a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) nucleotide #88 to #2400 of SEQ ID NO: 1;   (b) nucleotide #70 to #2358 of SEQ ID NO: 3; and   (c) DNA sequences which encode the same protein as that encoded by (a) or (b).   
     
     
       11. A vector comprising the DNA molecule of claim 10 in operative association with an expression control sequence. 
     
     
       12. A host cell transformed with the vector of claim 11. 
     
     
       13. The isolated DNA molecule according to claim 10, said DNA molecule comprising nucleotide #70 to #2358 of SEQ ID NO. 3. 
     
     
       14. A vector comprising the DNA molecule of claim 13 in operative association with an expression control sequence. 
     
     
       15. A host cell transformed with the vector of claim 14. 
     
     
       16. A method for producing purified HNF3δ protein, said method comprising the steps of: (a) culturing a host cell transformed with the isolated DNA molecule according to claim 10; and   (b) recovering and purifying said HNF3δ protein from the culture medium.   
     
     
       17. An isolated DNA plasmid which has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection under Depository Access Number ATCC 97704. 
     
     
       18. An isolated DNA plasmid which has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection under Depository Access Number ATCC 97705.